| Buddhism: Fortifying a Vital Pillar of Support | ||||
| UPDATE : 29 April 2010 | ||||
Jitwara Rungrueng, 60, has two teenage daughters. Since she doesn’t have any sons, the idea of arranging an ordination ceremony wouldn’t normally be an option. The majority of Thai women wouldn’t consider the idea of ordaining into the Buddhist priesthood since it is not permitted. But recently, Jitwara jointly hosted an ordination ceremony for samaneri (female novices) for her youngest daughter, 18-year-old Kanokporn, who decided to don the orange robe of a female novice. “I’ve always had a strong desire to ordain and experience the [Buddhist] priesthood,” she says. Kanokporn regularly practices meditation and studies the Buddha’s teachings, which she says provide her with “peace of mind”. Once she completes her stint as a novice, Kanokporn will return to her second year of studies in business administration. Making merit Kanokporn wants to devote the merit she will accumulate from her devotion to prolonging the preaching of the Lord Buddha to her mother. This follows the same pattern as the traditional belief that sons should be ordained to serve Buddhism and devote the merit generated by serving Buddhism to their mothers.
Groundbreaking development Dhammananda Bhikkhuni launched the first nine-day-long program to ordain lay- women as female novices last year. Eighty-two women participated in the program, which was held three times during 2009. “The program aims to provide women with the chance to ordain and get a true understanding of Buddhism by the time they have returned to their lay status,” she says.
Dhammananda Bhikkhuni was previously known as Dr Chatsumarn Kabilsingh, a professor of religion and philosophy at Thammasat University, who earned a doctoral degree in Buddhism from India. Her ordination received widespread criticism nationwide and has been rejected by traditionalists, orthodox Buddhists and many others. Nevertheless, her dedication has remained intact throughout. In 2005, Dhammananda Bhikkhuni was among 1,000 women who were nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize. Pillar of support Dhammananda Bhikkhuni says the success of 2009’s ordination program has proven that many women are interested in ordaining and she believes that those who ordain will gain a better understanding of Buddhism, which can provide a powerful resource for strengthening the religion in the kingdom. During the nine-day program, novices are required to observe Buddhism’s 10 precepts. Their daily tasks include chanting and practicing meditation early in the morning and late in the evening, as well as listening to and discussing dhamma talks and lectures hosted by Dhammananda Bhikkhuni, guest monks and senior female novices.
The monastery doesn’t plan to hold a program to ordain women as female monks and Dhammananda Bhikkhuni has not yet obtained the required number of years in the monkhood (12), required to be qualified as a preceptor at present. According to Theravada Buddhism, a woman must be ordained as a novice for two years to be eligible to ordain as a female monk and must stay with a preceptor for two years. Currently, there are four female novices living on a permanent basis at the monastery, sharing the same determination to ordain as female monks. They plan to be ordained in Sri Lanka, which takes a more liberal approach that allows for female ordination in the Theravada tradition, before returning to the kingdom on completion of the various obligations and formalities. Dhammananda Bhikkhuni says she is determined to support and secure the status of female monks in the country for the completion of the existence of Theravada Buddhism’s ‘four pillars’ - bhikkhu (male monks), bhikkhuni (female monks), upasaka (male devotees), and upasika (female devotees). The Lord Buddha said that the health of Buddhism depends on the existence of these four pillars. Kanokporn is not yet making preparations to ordain as a female monk, but she has already decided to ordain again as a female novice in the near future. “Now, women are important supporters of Buddhism and I’d like to ensure that all four pillars are supporting Buddhism in the country,” says Kanokporn. | ||||
วันพุธที่ 12 พฤษภาคม พ.ศ. 2553
Buddhism: Fortifying a Vital Pillar of Support
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